Smartphones are more than just mobile internet and telecommunications devices that also function as media players and gaming devices. They’re also targets for robbers and muggers. The Federal Communications Commission, for example, reports that 30 to 40 percent of all robberies nationwide involve the taking of a cellphone or smartphone.
Two prosecutors, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón have decided to tackle the issue head-on, announcing the "Save Our Smartphones" (S.O.S.) Initiative last month with the goal of reducing smartphone-related robberies. On Thursday, they gathered a group of state and federal security experts in San Francisco to test the latest security features from two of the largest smartphone manufacturers, Apple Inc. and Samsung.
